Editor’s note: I’ve added the list of participating restaurants below. Sorry for the omission.
My goal is to skip cooking tomorrow night and instead attend the Second Annual Taste of Downers Grove event tomorrow night, which friends raved about last year. It’s scheduled for 4 to 8 p.m. at the corner of I-355 and Butterfield Road.
The family-friendly adventure in dining offers more than 30 sample dishes from several local restaurants, all priced from $2 to $5 each.
Participating restaurants: Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant, Bok Choy Café, Capri Ristorante, Carlucci Restaurant & Bar, Doubletree Guest Suites – The Esplanade Restaurant, Dunkin’ Donuts, Jimmy John’s, Marriott Suites Downers Grove – Allie’s American Grille & Lounge, Parkers’ Restaurant & Bar, Ruby Tuesday and The Melting Pot.
Presented by the Downers Grove Hospitality Alliance, the Taste also features live entertainment plus a variety of kids’ activities.
There is no entrance fee and proceeds benefit a trio of good local causes: the Education Foundation of District 58, the District 99 Education Foundation and Good Samaritan Hospital.
More information is available by calling (630) 729-0380 or by emailing info@visitdownersgrove.com.
They should be holding this event downtown DG in the CBD! We have such a large variety spead from 75th st to 355 we could do it in the summer instead of HF. No carny rides, just a Taste of DG.
The Community Events Commission meets Thursday Sept 17th–tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. in the Committee Room at Village Hall. I like your idea. I’d say tack the Art Fair on too. A genteel, welcome change of pace to the more hectic HF’s in the past, perhaps.
Great idea heart, I thought the same thing when I read E’s post, ‘why isn’t this downtown??’
Here’s a little history that will explain the location:
The Taste of Downers Grove was started last year to expose local restaurants to the “Northwest Territory,” the office corridor on Butterfield. The idea was to give all those workers at Sara Lee and other high-rises a chance to sample the wares of of downtown restaurants and others they might not otherwise know about.
Whether or not they participate is up to the restaurants.
I love that idea of a summer taste of DG instead of HF! I love a fall fest too though, a lot of towns have hayrides/pumpkin carving, corn etc. Harvest Fest type of things that are very cool.
Maybe we could do a taste of Downers Grove in conjunction with Heritage Fest. We could get corporate sponsors to help fund Heritage Fest and have the EDC and DMC coordinate the event. If we can find a way to make more events hosted in Downers Grove revenue neutral other village services may not have to be cut so much. Just an idea.
It was a really nice event. Even Elmo was there and it looked to be a mix of the after-work crowd and families when we attended around 7. Would have liked to have seen a place to recycle the plastics and cans.
Too bad Finley grill isn’t participating. I think their food is good and a nice clubby like atmosphere. Kid friendly also.
What an event. Hats off to the EDC and all who participated!! We enjoyed ourselves and it was nice to meet with Com. Durkin and Waldack and discuss issues facing our Village Budget and to get to know them.
We should do more of these types of events on a smaller scale vs. one BIG event like Heritage Fest.
Our family went and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Beautiful night great food and good company.
We were only able to stop in briefly between activities, and I am so sorry we didn’t have longer to spend at this great event.
Kudos to the Downers Grove Hospitality Alliance and the EDC for a very well-organized, appealing and entertaining event and thanks to the restaurants for serving up some great food. Nice sized portions, too.